Background
Edgar Fogel Magnin was born on July 1, 1890 in San Francisco, California.
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Edgar Magnin
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Magnin served at the temple for 69 years and was considered one of the most prominent Jewish leaders in the United States, sometimes called the "Rabbi to the Stars" because of his close connections to the Hollywood film industry. His relatives founded the I. Magnin department store chain. Magnin became the rabbi of Congregation B’nai B’rith in Los Angeles, California in 1915.
After becoming senior rabbi of the oldest Jewish congregation in Los Angeles in 1919, he distinguished his sixty-nine-year tenure at Wilshire Boulevard Temple through close ties with the motion picture and television industry.
Magnin was in charge of the temple during the construction and opening of its Wilshire Center building, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is known for its distinctive stained glass windows and its immense Byzantine revival dome.
Magnin was active in Los Angeles civic affairs and in interfaith dialogue. Among the many life-cycle events he performed were the wedding of Norma Shearer and Irving Thalberg, and the funerals of numerous entertainment figures and movie moguls.
He participated in the inaugural ceremonies of Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Ronald Reagan, and served on more than 20 executive boards and advisory councils.
Magnin died on July 17, 1984 in Beverly Hills, California. He is buried at the Home of Peace Cemetery in East Los Angeles, California.
Membership
He was a charter board member of the Hollywood Bowl.
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Born
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Died
July 17, 1984 (aged 94) -
Nationality
Jewish